Chapter Twenty-Six: A Unique Skill

“Name.”
“Yang Shuo.”
“Age.”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Occupation.”
“Collector of rent.”
“Speak honestly…”
“Well, I collect protection fees…”
“Hm?”
“It’s not exactly protection fees, just commissions from roadside vendors and some shops. Also, when some single-story houses are demolished, we show up too.”
“You’re with the syndicate?”
“You could say that.”
“Ever attacked anyone with a blade?”
“No, but I’ve been in fights. Often.”
“...”
“Any education? Special skills? Like combat, martial arts, even cooking counts…”
“Uh, I dropped out in ninth grade, stayed home for two years, then spent a year at a vocational school. Um… does computer programming count? Though I’ve forgotten most of it.”
“...”
Fan Li set aside his pen and massaged his brow, unwilling to admit that the first subordinate he’d recruited seemed far from clever.

In summary, this was a man with an intimidating appearance, claiming to be involved in a criminal organization—a petty thug, perhaps?

Yet, there were advantages to this: if the man ever betrayed him, he was unlikely to stab him in the back—not for lack of will, but for lack of courage.

When Fan Li closed his notebook, Yang Shuo breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t forgotten his own precarious situation, which was why he answered promptly. Judging by Fan Li’s expression, though, his answers hadn’t been particularly satisfactory.

“Is he disappointed in me?” Yang Shuo suddenly wondered.

---

“Do you have a cutting machine? No… even without an electric cutter, it’d be useless. Do you have any larger tools—like hammers, crowbars, anything like that?”
“Hm? No, why would I need those?” Yang Shuo shook his head, puzzled.
“There are still several units in this building left unexplored. The tenants have reinforced doors, and there’s no response when I knock. I’ll need some heavy tools to pry them open.”
Fan Li answered calmly.

Just as I thought!

Yang Shuo’s face bore the look of someone who’d guessed it already. He glanced at the piles of supplies around them: three bags of rice alone, plenty of flour, and enough seasoning to form a heap. This man was undoubtedly the culprit behind all the noise in recent days.

Fan Li fell into thought. The supplies in each apartment meant a greater chance of survival—he couldn’t afford to abandon them. Without hammers or crowbars, he’d have to rely on Ellie’s abilities.

“Right! When summoning, Yang Shuo can’t be present. Otherwise, Ellie might see him as food prepared for her. He’s not that useful, but better than nothing.”

“If you want to open doors, I might have a way,” Yang Shuo suddenly volunteered.

So, were you playing me just now?

Fan Li looked up, his gaze dark and icy as he stared at Yang Shuo.

Yang Shuo stiffened for a second, then managed a bitter smile and said quietly, “No, no… I don’t have large tools—but I do have this.”

He pulled from his pocket not a key, but wires of varying lengths, bent at different angles.

“I can try opening the door with these. I’ve studied this a bit.”

Fan Li’s expression turned odd, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

Yang Shuo seemed to understand and waved his hands quickly: “You know how the rent isn’t enough to go around, so I take on other work. But don’t worry, I’ve never visited this building. I live here myself, after all.”

At that, Fan Li was at a loss for words. The two fell into a subtle silence.

“You’re a little more competent than I expected,” Fan Li observed.

“Damn, don’t talk to me in that tone—I know you’re insulting me!” Yang Shuo fumed, nearly bursting out in curses.

Still, he managed a smile. “I can’t just eat your food for free.”

Mentioning food, Fan Li’s demeanor became serious. “Listen, there’s still plenty to eat in this room, but it’s all mine, not yours. If you want to fill your belly, you’ll have to find your own food. I need a helper, not a giant baby who needs pampering.”

---

“Words alone won’t solve anything. Let’s see your lock-picking skills. If all goes well, I’ll let you have some spoils. If you’re lying, you’ll be dining on dog food tonight.”

Yang Shuo had already glimpsed Fan Li’s cold side, so he wasn’t much fazed by these words. He simply nodded.

Still, despite the bluntness, Yang Shuo couldn’t shake a strange feeling.

“Alright, then wash the dishes and we’ll head out!”

Yang Shuo knew he was dependent now and couldn’t object. He didn’t dare overthink, grabbed the bowl from the table, and walked to the sink.

…

Sixth floor.

The apartment across from the madwoman’s. When Fan Li had come earlier, the door was tightly locked and couldn’t be opened.

Now, Fan Li returned, this time with a helper.

The madwoman had locked herself in her own world—unless her door sounded, nothing else seemed to catch her attention.

Fan Li’s expression was complex, but he quickly regained composure, moving to stand before the opposite door.

“Why are you dressed like this?” Yang Shuo grumbled. It was still September, yet he wore a heavy down jacket, and Fan Li had forced a scarf tightly around his mouth.

“Stop talking, hurry up and open the door!”

Fan Li stood behind Yang Shuo, katana in hand, blade angled, ready for combat. He knew that a terrifying enemy lurked behind this door.

Yang Shuo pursed his lips, refrained from arguing, and inserted the wire into the lock.

The scrape of wire against the lock caught the attention from within. Just as Yang Shuo was fully absorbed, a sudden impact rattled the metal door. The pressure made him jump, and he collapsed to the floor, looking up at Fan Li,

“Someone’s in there… There’s someone inside…”

What could be more nerve-wracking than a thief caught by the homeowner suddenly opening the door?

But as Yang Shuo waited for the door to swing open and for the occupant to scold him, a low, eerie voice came from behind,

“Keep picking—what’s inside isn’t human…”